Highway-crossing signal for electric roads.



PATEN'T'ED FEB. 25', 1908.

I E. MOGLENTOCKI HIGHWAY CROSSING SIGN AL FOR ELEOTRIG ROADS.

APPL IOATION FILED APE. 3 0, 1907.

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EDWARD MCGLINTOCK, OF ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA,

HIGHWAY CRQSSING SIGNAL FDR ELECTRIC RQADS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Fermented Feb. 233, li fils Application filed April 30, 1907- Serial llo. 371.053.

To all whom it may concern:

Be 1t known that, I, EDWARD McCLrNTooK, of St. loul, Ramsey county, M1nnesoto,l1ovc invented certain new and useful In roves crossing. v

The Invention coi'isists generally normolly closed crock circuit and c. normhlly s ren line circuis having c in connection wifcl'i crime element sod 2r signs-l circuit orrsngcd to he kept. closed for c predetermined period hy the time elcincn gi orther, the invention consists in provid log a normally clcr rd crock circuit arranged to en. the line c1 not snd prevent the operosion of the signal when. the train is leaving she crossing.

in the sccon port; of spe grsnimslic view sopsrscir when crossing and has passed on the insulated c eric-cs. Fig. 2 is sin view illus-' zin cs position of the parts when the cor rings, rorrning IS a dissign ling preaching the leaving the Fig. is'slso c diagrammatic View wherein rho line circuit normally closed in distinction, from the normally open line circuit shown in rigs. l and 2. r

In the drawing, 2 represents the continu-. ous track rails on one side utilized for the return current and A and B short sections of track scporcted from the other rails and from each other by suitable insulation .l. Batteries C and l) are connected with the sections A and B and the opposite track rails.

3 is a circuit closer connected by conduo tors 4 and 5 with the section A and the rails 2. A contact point 6 is connected by a condoctor 7 with the mils 2 and the armature 8 ofi'the circuit closer 3 is connected by condoctor 5) with contact point 10. A contact point H. has e conductor 12 and resistance 12 connecting ii with section A. A circuit closer 13 is connected by conductors 14 and 15 with section B and with the rails 2, and srmctures 16 and 17 are connected together by a bar 18 and are arranged to contact with the poincs 10 and 11. A conductor 19 leads from. the armature 16 to an armature 20 on the other side of the crossing. The corms? turc 20 is connected by s oar 21 with on airmoture 22 of a circuit closer 23 in circuit through conductors 24 and 25 with on insulsiteni track section F and with the opposite craclircils 2. The ormsfiure is also corn nected by a conductor 26 wits conductor 25.

The armature 20 has acontsc't point 27 and a conductor 28 lesdm therefrom to an arrow sure 29 of a circuit closer 30 that is connected hyconductors 31 and 32 with an insulsced truck section H and with the rails 2. A contact point 33 in the path of the armature 29 has is connection so with the track rails 2'. Batteries X and Y connect the track sections F and H with the opposite rails.

A contact point 35 is in the path of the srms time 22 and is connected by c conductor 86 throuflh crcsistance 35 with the track section ii. A relay 37 has a conductor 38 leading to the line wire 19 and a second conductor 39 leading through a battery (9 he the rails 2. Armatures 40 and -11 connected by in bar 42 contact points 43 and -14; connected by e conductor 45, through a solenoid 4:6 with s trolley Wire 47 having lamps or o suitable resist once indicoied by cross nicrks ln the conductor 45.

A ratchet wheel 45 has a reduction gear connection 46 with or motor M that is procontrolled by the relay 3? and engage vidod with a conductor 48 lccdin to the crock rails 2. An arm 47 is pivotoily con nccted to'the armature 4:1 and is mlapced to slide over the ieeth of the ratchet when soid armature is moved in one dirccrion, and to engage said teeth and prevent the armature from returning to its normal position until the ratchet is revolved by the motor. This motor and the ratchet mechanism connected therewith constitute the time element ofizlle apparatus and the period during which she signal operates after the closing of thc-lme circuit is governed by this element which forms the subject matter of a companion application herewith, No. 371,052, filed April 30, 1907, and hence detailed illustration and description is unnecessary herein.

this keeping the line circuit open and A conductor 49 leads from the armature 41 to a point 50 in the path of the armature 51 of the solenoid 46. A conductor 52 con.- nects the armature 51 with the conductor 45. A conductor 53 leads from the armature 40 to the line 45 and the signal bell 54 has a conductor 55 leadin thrbugh it to the conductors 48 and 56, t 1e latter connecting the other side of the motor and the conductor 49.

The operation of the signal device is as follows z--N ormally the circuit will be closed through the circuit closers 3 and 13 and their armatures will be attracted to break the contact at the points 6 and 11. As soon, however, as a car passes upon insulated track section A the clrcuit closer 3 will be short circuited and becoming denergized the armature 8 will be' withdrawn and will contact with the point 6 whereupon the line circuit will be closed from the rails 2 through the conductor 7, armature 8, conductor 9, armature 1.6, conductor 19, relay 37. oonductors 38 and 39, and battery 0 back of the rails 2. The energizing of the relay 37 will draw its armature 40 away from the point 43 and bring the armature 41 into contact with the point 44, whereupon a circuit will be established through the motor to the ground and the'solenoid 46 will be energized to draw its armature into contact with the point 50 and close the circuit from the trolley line 47 through the motor and signal to the track rails .2 or the ground. The motor will be started and will operate the ratchet mechanism and i hold the armature 41 inengagement with the point 44 for a predetermined period governed by the speed of the motor and the reduction in the gear connection between the motor and the ratchet. The solenoid will establish another circuit through conductor 49, the motor and conductor 48 to the ground. I prefer-to use a solenoid in this circuit with carbons at point 50 to prevent arcing at contacts 43 and 44. As soon as the car truck reaches the section B the circuit closer 13 will be deenergized and the relay circuit opened at point 10, whereupon the relay 37 Will release its armature, but the open ing of the signal circuit will be prevented by the motor and the time mechanism connected therewith. The signal will thoref ore continue to operate while the car is approaching the crossing. The car having passed over the crossing will engage the insulated rail section F and short circuit the closer 23,

allowing its arn'iaturc to contact with the point 35 and establishing" another path through conductor-.36 and insulated section H. The line circuit, however, will be opened at contact point 27. WV hen the truck reaches the section II the relay 23 will remain shortcircuited until the trucks all leave section ll,

pre-

ventingthe signal from being operated w ien the train is leaving the crossing. When a car will be closed for a certain period when a car is approaching the highway crossing from either direction, but will remain open and the signal will be inoperative when the car is leaving the crossing and moving in either direction. The system may also be used with a closed line circuit as shown in Fig. 3, and in such case the signal will be closed and the signal operated whenever any part of the system is out of order. The 0 )eration of the track relays will be substantially the same as those described above and the same reference ligures may be used for each. In the time element, however, a ratchet 45 is employed which is the reverse of the one described and is operated when the relay opens the circuit instead of closing it as in the normally open line circuit.

[ claim as my invention 1 The combination, with a normally circuited by the passage of a car approaching a highway crossing, of a line circuit closed by the short-cireuiting of said track circuit, a relay in said line circuit, a signal circuit normally open and controlled by said relay, 2. time element arran ed to prevent the opening of said signal circuit for a predetermined period after said line circuit is opened and while the car is approaching the crossing, a second normally closed track circuit on the opposite side of the crossing from said first named track circuit and arranged to open said line circuit and prevent the operation of said signal when the car is leaving said crossing.

-2. The combination, with the track rails having a highway crossing, of the insulated track sections on one side of the crossing and closed track circuit arranged to be short I on the same side of the track, track circuits over said insulated rail sections moving toward said crossing, insulated track sections on the other side of the crossing and on H same side of the track and over which t. car passes leaving said crossing, track cir cuits connected with said last namedsections, and means whereby said last named track erases circuits will open said line circuit and previded in said rails on each side of said vent the operation of said signal when the crossing and on the same side of the track,

the operation of said signal for a predetercar 15 leavlng said crossing. normally closed track circuits provided in 3. The combination, with the track r'ails connection with said sections and arranged having a highway crossing, of insulated to be short circuited .by the passage of a car I track sections provided in said rails on each I side of said crossing and on the same side of the track, normally closed track circuits provided in connection with said sections and arranged to be short circuited by the passage of a car over said. crossing, a line circuit, a I tion ofsaid signal for a predetermined period relay in said line circuit, a normally open l after a car has passed over said insulated signal circuit controlled by said relay and rail sections and is moving toward the crossover said-sections, a line circuit, a relay in said line circuit, a normally open signal circuit controlled by said relay and having a signal circuit closed and continue the operahaving a signal, a'time element arranged to ing from either direction, a trolley wire, a keep said signal circuit closed and continue solenoid in circuit with said wire and with said relay, and time element and said track mined period after a car has passed over circuits being arranged toprevent the opera said insulated railv sections and is moving toward the crossing from either direction and said track circuits being arranged to l prevent the operation of said relay and the 1 closing of said signal circuit When a car is tion of said relay and the closing of sald signal circuit when a car is leaving the crossing, moving in either direction.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 20th day of April 1907.

leaving the crossing and moving in either FDWARD M061 INTOCK direction. I A J Lin an electric railway, the coinbina- Witnesses: f

tion with the track rails and a highway RICHARD PAUL,

crossing, of insulated track sections pro- J. B. EVA.

signal, a time element arranged to keep said 

